Sudan's Revolutionary Front suspends peace talks with government
Thursday October 17 2019
From left: Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, President of Sudanese Transitional Council General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and President of South Sudan Salva Kiir attend a meeting to endorse the peace talks between Sudan's government and rebel leaders in Juba, South Sudan, on October 14, 2019. PHOTO | PETER LOUIS | AFP
The leader of Sudan Revolutionary Front Saif Aldeen Essa Abdulmoula Saeed on Thursday said they had suspended the peace talks with the transitional government until some issues are ironed out.
Mr Saeed said they will only return to the negotiating table when Khartoum resolves procedural issues and releases detainees.
“We called for postponement for 15 days to a month. They agreed in principle to this opinion...there will be a route for representatives of Darfur on their own,” said Mr Saeed.
Tut Gatluak, the presidential adviser on security affairs confirmed the suspension of negotiations.
“We accepted the request for postponement by the Revolutionary Front in order to agree first on the agenda and the road map,” said Mr Gatluak.
The Sudan Revolutionary Front was established in November 2011 following fighting in South Kordofan and Blue Nile provinces that broke out after South Sudan’s secession from Sudan.
It represents six armed groups from the Darfur region, South Kordofan and Blue Nile states.
The Sudan peace talks started on Monday in neighbouring South Sudan's capital Juba on Monday with the aim of ending the country's years-long civil wars.
On Wednesday, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, the Chairman of the Transitional Council of Sovereignty, announced a permanent ceasefire in the three conflict zones.
The transitional government said it was prepared to negotiate on all tracks including the economy, security, legislation and governance.
Following the ceasefire, the Sudan People's Liberation Movement wing led by Abdul Aziz Al-Helw said it would return to the negotiations with the Sudan government.
Although they are characterised as one round of peace talks, the Sudan government is holding separate sessions with representatives of different armed groups based on a mediation blueprint drawn by South Sudan President Salva Kiir.